‘Tis the season for tipples! Warm up this winter with Ampersand Distilling Co.‘s Nocino!, a limited-edition liqueur that will effortlessly spice up your holiday soirée. In addition to bringing back the popular product for a third season of merrymaking, the Cowichan Valley distillery is closing out the year with two awards earned at SIP Northwest‘s 2019 Best of the Northwest Competition, a toast to five successful years of business.
Every bar cart needs Nocino!, Ampersand’s silky spirit crafted with green walnuts harvested in summer, sweetened with local honey, and infused with cinnamon and allspice. Beloved by consumers and industry alike, the celebrated sipper won a gold medal at the 2019 Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition, and was the only product to receive a double gold award in the non-fruit liqueur category at SIP Northwest‘s 2019 Best of the Northwest Competition. Snag your own bottle of Nocino! (or gift it to a friend!) at select locations starting November 16, 2019, including:
- Legacy Liquor Store (Vancouver, B.C.)
- Vessel (Victora, B.C.)
- Cascadia Liquor (Victoria / Courtenay, B.C.)
- Beverly Corners (Duncan, B.C.)

To round out your liquor cabinet this season, make sure to pick up Ampersand’s other signature sips – some of which also earned kudos at SIP Northwest‘s 2019 Best of the Northwest. In addition to Nocino!’s double gold win, the Ampersand team scooped up the only silver medal awarded in the vodka category for Per Se Vodka, a simple yet elegant blend of 100% B.C.-grown wheat and spring water sourced from Ampersand’s five-acre farm. The annual competition – which received a record number of submissions this year – shines a spotlight on the best wine, beer, spirits and cider in the Northwest; all winners are featured in SIP Northwest’s November issue. To taste what all the buzz is about for yourself, pick up a bottle of Per Se Vodka at select private liquor stores across B.C. (don’t forget to try the distillery’s flagship Ampersand Gin, too!) Locate the spirit nearest you using the handy map featured on Ampersand’s website here.